Fire Chaplain Volunteer

POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED

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Job Information: Fire Chaplain Volunteer

Department: Fire

Reports to: Division Chief of Training & Safety

Location: Primarily, Fire Station #1

Civil Service: No

Bargaining Unit: Volunteer

Pay Grade: N/A

Overtime Status: N/A

FLSA Status: N/A

JOB SUMMARY

Volunteer Fire Chaplains provide emotional support, counseling, and assistance to Marion Fire Department (MFD) employees and other responders, as needed, to their immediate families, and to the community during and following emergency and crisis situations. 

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES/WORK PERFORMED

• Offer confidential counseling to MFD employees and their families.
• Participate in critical incident debriefings.
• Make referrals in cases where specialized attention in needed or in those cases beyond the chaplain's abilities or responsibilities.
• Participate in training courses to enhance service effectiveness.
• Visit fire stations, as well as participate in "ride-a-longs" when arranged, to develop relationships with fire personnel.
• Attend assigned department meetings.
• Respond to major disasters, including mass casualty events, death, or serious injury to MFD personnel at the request of incident commanders or other agencies or hospitals.
• Attend special events as requested, such as funerals.
• Ability to be "on-call" and accessible when needed, including evenings and weekends.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Knowledge of departmental mission, command structure, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the distinct challenges experienced by firefighters and other first responders.
• Knowledge of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, of the willingness to learn Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding victims and personnel consistent with State and Federal laws/regulations and department policy.
• Skilled in developing and maintaining good relationships with departmental personnel, volunteer chaplains, and others.
• Ability to present service in a strictly secular fashion. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Ability to take directions from the fire chief and/or their designee.
• Ability to read, speak, write, and understand English to effectively communicate with employees and residents face to face, by telephone, two-way radio, and in written form. 
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to climb stairs and traverse uneven terrain.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, including at the scene of an incident. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Chaplain must be ordained or credentialed to provide Chaplain services.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of crisis management and counseling.
• Manifest a broad base of individual and professional experience demonstrating emotional stability and personal flexibility. 
• Must have a valid Iowa driver's license. 

REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECKS

• Criminal Background Check
• Sex Offender Registry Check
• Driving Record Check
• Drug Screen